la22bay

So I get the 2000 S430 back up running, trying to pinpoint what drained the battery. I go out tonight and there it is rear seat dome lights won't shut off. Press button no response. Is it the fuse or relay? dome fuse f77 is under rear seat right side according to diagram. Now the good part I can't figure out how this seat comes out, its dark so I knowing if the battery drain I'm right back to square one. So I disconnect negative cable battery to shut down lights, I can't find cellphone leave car trunk lid up hood up get phone return to driveway, didn't know when power is disconnected the vacuum arms that hold trunk up stop working so now trunk locked, key will turn the lock but will not open trunk, get spare skeleton key same turn trunk lid won't open. Now I'm really screwed, Ground is off battery removing plate in floor on passenger side won't work, why no power to jump trunk lock button in car. Question how do I now get in the trunk, and also has anyone have this rear dome lights won't turn off problem and what causes this, never had a problem with car runs excellent now this. relay bad or fuse?

tusabes

The skeleton key should work , its mechanical . You do need to turn and push a certain way

la22bay

No this key is not working tried to get it to open it turns across and up and down pushes in yet will not disengage lock cylinder to pop open. I don't want to bend key and break it up in the lock. Tried both skeleton keys the lock will only release with button or remote. I guess I'm screwed!
Any experience with rear seat dome lights not going off? Button pressed no response. Could moisture on the antenna for phone on roof of car having small crack in front exposing the wires slightly be the cause?

wallyp

Get someone to help you - preferably someone heavy. Have the helper lie on the deck lid while you turn the key, and see if that helps the latch release.

fxdeebee

This should help .. if you have a spare battery/charger




note which post to connect to, not the large red cable.

la22bay

Called roadside got trunk open removing metal plate as in video surprisingly it jumped power with negative cable disconnected, lights around rear vanity mirrors in back seats will not turn off. Checked roof interior map lamp controls the plastic wells where screws tighten cover have broken which holds rear light button on front dome lights unit $468 for part, but not sure this is problem. Took bulbs out for now to stop battery drain. does anyone remember having this problem? I'm sick of these poor plastic designs on all Mercedes models that just break then cost 800-900$ Parts and labor to correct. thanks all for responses just wish these $100k cars had parts that last have plastic parts broken on SL500 convertible roof flap 400$ to replace interior molding, flap attachment plastic holding hinge fell apart.

vmystikilv

It cost one dollar to make it
You sell it for 500 and the hundred thousand dollar car you bought doesn't work without it. It's how business is now done

wallyp

la22bay said, "...surprisingly it jumped power with negative cable disconnected..."


Actually, easy to understand.
Imagine a light bulb with two wires, and the two wires are attached to the positive and negative terminals of a battery. The bulb glows.
Disconnect the wire going to the negative terminal. The bulb goes out.
Take another battery with two wires attached. Attach the wires to the bulb. The bulb glows. The second battery doesn't know or care whether the first battery is disconnected - it just supplies power to the bulb.


In your case, the service tech hooked a battery positive to the positive wire harness, supplying power to the harness, and hooked the battery negative to the car body/chassis, completing the circuit. Doesn't even matter whether there is a battery in the box - as long as the positive cable isn't touching the body or chassis.

My 1st W220

Did you ever find a solution to your lighting issue? My rear seat interior lights just started staying on today and I can't figure out why.

la22bay

Yes, your problem is the rear overhead light switch control in front sunroof unit the buttons will not turn lights out in rear seat vanity lights around outside of mirrors. Replace unit. Check eBay cheap about $70 will fix your problem